Integrated water shut off valve control system

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for automatically actuating preexisting water shut-off valves. A coupling of a valve actuator is connected to a handle of the valve, such that a motor of the valve actuator causes the selective opening and closing of the water shut-off valve. A controller monitors and controls valve actuation by controlling the motor. In addition to actuating the water shut-off valve upon detection of leak conditions, the controller may actuate the valve in order to test the water supply system or to test operation of the water shut-off valve. The operating status of the water shut-off valve may thus be monitored in order to detect or address problems with the water shut-off valve to prevent unexpected valve failure after a leak is detected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for determining an operating status of a water shut-off valve attached to a pipe of a water supply system, comprising:
 a motor connected to a valve handle coupling configured to apply a torque from the motor to a handle of the water shut-off valve to selectively open or close the water shut-off valve to control flow of water through the water shut-off valve;   one or more motor sensors configured to detect one or more operating characteristics of the motor while the torque is applied to the handle of the water shut-off valve by the motor via the valve handle coupling; and   a controller communicatively connected to the motor and the one or more motor sensors, wherein the controller is configured to:
 control the motor to actuate the water shut-off valve; 
 obtain a plurality of operating characteristic measurements of the one or more motor sensors at a corresponding plurality of times during actuation of the water shut-off valve; 
 determine one or more operating metric values for the water shut-off valve based upon the plurality of operating characteristic measurements; and 
 determine the operating status of the water shut-off valve based upon the one or more operating metric values. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more motor sensors include a torque sensor and the one or more operating characteristics include the torque applied by the motor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more operating metric values include at least one of the following: a maximum torque, an average torque, or a torque profile. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more motor sensors include a position sensor and the one or more operating characteristics include a rotational position of the motor. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more operating metric values include at least one of the following: a final rotational position, a total change in the rotational position, or a total time to open or close the water shut-off valve. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more motor sensors include a voltage or current sensor and the one or more operating characteristics include a voltage or current of the motor. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more operating metric values include at least one of the following: a maximum voltage, an average voltage, a voltage profile, a maximum current, an average current, or a current profile. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow sensor configured to detect water flow within the pipe, wherein the controller is further configured to:
 detect one or more water flow levels prior to, during, or after actuation of the water shut-off valve; and   determine the operating status of the water shut-off valve based upon at least one of the one or more water flow levels and the one or more operating metric values.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the operating status of the water shut-off valve indicates whether the water shut-off valve closes completely when actuated by the motor;   the one or more water flow levels include a shut valve water flow level measured at a time following closure of the water shut-off valve by the motor; and   the controller is further configured to determine the operating status of the water shut-off valve based at least in part upon whether the shut valve water flow level exceeds a water flow threshold.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 generate a notification based upon the operating status of the water shut-off valve; and   send the notification to an electronic device associated with a user in order to cause the electronic device to present an alert to the user.   
     
     
         11 . A computer-implemented method for determining an operating status of a water shut-off valve attached to a pipe of a water supply system, comprising:
 controlling, by one or more processors of a controller, a motor to actuate the water shut-off valve, wherein the motor is connected to a valve handle coupling configured to apply a torque from the motor to a handle of the water shut-off valve to selectively open or close the water shut-off valve to control flow of water through the water shut-off valve;   obtaining, by the one or more processors, a plurality of operating characteristic measurements from one or more motor sensors configured to detect one or more operating characteristics of the motor at a corresponding plurality of times while the torque is applied to the handle of the water shut-off valve by the motor via the valve handle coupling;   determining, by the one or more processors, one or more operating metric values for the water shut-off valve based upon the plurality of operating characteristic measurements; and   determining, by the one or more processors, the operating status of the water shut-off valve based upon the one or more operating metric values.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the one or more motor sensors include a torque sensor;   the one or more operating characteristics include the torque applied by the motor; and   the one or more operating metric values include at least one of the following: a maximum torque, an average torque, or a torque profile.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the one or more motor sensors include a position sensor;   the one or more operating characteristics include a rotational position of the motor; and   the one or more operating metric values include at least one of the following: a final rotational position, a total change in the rotational position, or a total time to open or close the water shut-off valve.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the one or more motor sensors include a voltage or current sensor;   the one or more operating characteristics include a voltage or current of the motor; and   the one or more operating metric values include at least one of the following: a maximum voltage, an average voltage, a voltage profile, a maximum current, an average current, or a current profile.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 obtaining, by the one or more processors, one or more water flow levels prior to, during, or after actuation of the water shut-off valve from a flow sensor configured to detect water flow within the pipe; and   determining, by the one or more processors, the operating status of the water shut-off valve based upon at least one of the one or more water flow levels and the one or more operating metric values.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the operating status of the water shut-off valve indicates whether the water shut-off valve closes completely when actuated by the motor,   the one or more water flow levels include a shut valve water flow level measured at a time following closure of the water shut-off valve by the motor; and   determining the operating status of the water shut-off valve includes determining the operating status based at least in part upon whether the shut valve water flow level exceeds a water flow threshold.   
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable instructions for determining an operating status of a water shut-off valve attached to a pipe of a water supply system that, when executed by one or more processors of a computer system, cause the computer system to:
 control a motor to actuate the water shut-off valve, wherein the motor is connected to a valve handle coupling configured to apply a torque from the motor to a handle of the water shut-off valve to selectively open or close the water shut-off valve to control flow of water through the water shut-off valve;   obtain a plurality of operating characteristic measurements from one or more motor sensors configured to detect one or more operating characteristics of the motor at a corresponding plurality of times while the torque is applied to the handle of the water shut-off valve by the motor via the valve handle coupling;   determine one or more operating metric values for the water shut-off valve based upon the plurality of operating characteristic measurements; and   determine the operating status of the water shut-off valve based upon the one or more operating metric values.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the one or more motor sensors include a torque sensor;   the one or more operating characteristics include the torque applied by the motor; and   the one or more operating metric values include at least one of the following: a maximum torque, an average torque, or a torque profile.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the one or more motor sensors include a position sensor;   the one or more operating characteristics include a rotational position of the motor; and   the one or more operating metric values include at least one of the following: a final rotational position, a total change in rotational position, or a total time to open or close the water shut-off valve.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the one or more motor sensors include a voltage or current sensor;   the one or more operating characteristics include a voltage or current of the motor; and   the one or more operating metric values include at least one of the following: a maximum voltage, an average voltage, a voltage profile, a maximum current, an average current, or a current profile.